PHILADELPHIA _ Reggie Jackson did enough to momentarily silence the critics calling for his benching.
The Detroit Pistons point guard scored 21 points _ just his second 20-point night since January _ to help his team take care of business with a 136-106 victory over the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the second half when the Pistons (30-32) cruised to a 30-plus-point lead in the third quarter.
Andre Drummond was active with 14 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. Marcus Morris scored 22 points, and Tobias Harris added 20.
Despite Jackson's solid night, it's not like he completely quelled talk of a benching.
Smith finished with 11 points, 13 assists and finished at a plus-22. Jackson was only plus-8.
After setting a record for free-throw shooting futility in Wednesday night's loss at New Orleans, the Pistons were 18 for 21 (85.7 percent), although Drummond didn't attempt a free throw.
The Pistons move to two games in front of the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
Former Michigan standout Nik Stauskas finished with 24 points for the 76ers (23-39). The 76ers were without center Jahlil Okafor (right knee) and Gerald Henderson (left hip).
The Pistons trailed, 13-4, before fans were settled into seats. Three dunks highlighted the Pistons' lack of resistance.
But Jackson scored eight quick points and exited with the Pistons trailing by one, 15-14, with 6:13 left in the first quarter.
And then the Pistons surged.
Smith fueled a 19-10 run to end the quarter. Smith had four assists and converted a three-point play, as the Pistons took a 33-25 lead into the second quarter.
Stauskas scored nine points in the second quarter to help the 76ers force a 48-48 tie with 4:19 remaining in the first half.
But Drummond's defensive presence slammed the door shut on the 76ers.
His turnaround hook shot gave the Pistons a 50-48 lead at the 3:47 mark.
Drummond's blocked shot turned into a Morris pull-up jumper, giving the Pistons a 60-48 lead to complete a 12-0 run with 2:24 remaining in the first half.
Smith's jumper with 1.3 seconds left in the first half gave the Pistons a 67-52 halftime lead.
Drummond contributed three blocked shots and a steal in the 19-4 run to end the first half.
Despite the lead, the fans received more fuel for the argument that Smith should start with Smith's robust plus-23 for the first half. Jackson was minus-8.
